Protected card file



J 16, 1 s. s. EHRENYZWEIG ,1

PROTECTED CARD FILE Filed April 26, 1938 V INVENTOR. SEYMOUR .S. EHRENZWEIG I BY Z {a ATTOR Y.

Patented Jan. 16, 1940 um'rs srrgg PATENT Fries 8 Claims.

My present invention relates to protected card files,and more particularly to record files of the type wherein records, kept in a container pro- I vided with a viewing cover, may be readily manipulated, but which container is provided with means to prevent unauthorized tampering with the records or removal thereof.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved protected card file; the latter including a container, or box, provided with a pair of pivoted viewing covers arranged to provide a central gap, or slot, in which is disposed a rod adapted to act as a guide and support for the records, and the rod additionally positively locking the covers to prevent tampering with the records.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a protected card file of the type described above, an additional mechanism responsive to the readily employed in a protected card file; the

records comprising metallic, or generally rigid, support elements having means for permanently, or temporarily, retaining a record card in viewing position in the container.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a container with a pair of transparent covers arranged to provide a longitudinal central gap when pivoted into closed position; the ad'- jacent edges of the covers being provided with at least one pair of stop elements, and a plurality of record cards being disposed within the con tainer; the cards having tabs projecting into the central gap, or slot, and being slidably associated with a rod positioned in said slot; and the rod cooperating with said stop elements to prevent access to the cards, and additionally actuating a mechanism. for preventing removal of the container from the filing cabinet.

Still other objects of my invention are to improve generally protected card tiles, and more especially to provide a card file readily adapted for safeguarding records kept by civil, or other, authorities and continually open for public in" vestigation, and which file is not only reliable and durable in use, but is economically manufactured.

' The novel features which I believe to be char acteristic of my invention are set forth in particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, will best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the drawing, in which I have indicated diagrammatically a construction where I by my invention may be carried into effect.

In the drawing: 5

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the protected card file box,

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the file box,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3- of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows; one of the covers being swung open, and parts of the longitudinal rod being broken away,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 -4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a rear portion of the covers and longitudinal rod,

Fig. 6 shows the detailed elements of a permanent type of card support tab.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters in the different figures designate similar elements, the record cards I are housed in a container 2. The latter has a generally rectangular configuration in the -manner of a drawer; its construction may be of steel, Wood or anyother desire-d material. A pair of transparent covers 3-3 are pivoted between the front and rear walls 4 and A; pins maybe employed for this purpose, but if desired the covers may be hinged at the top edges of the side walls. Each cover, as shown in Fig. 4, consists of a sheet of transparentmaterial, such as glass, Celluloid or the like, provided witha metal border. The inner, longitudinal edges ofthe covers are spaced apart toprovide a central, longitudinal slot, or gap, 5. The Width of the slot 5 is sufficient to receive the longitudinal rod 3 as well as the tabs 1 of the record cards. Preferably, the slott is somewhat wider the width of a tab 1, asshown in Fig. 4. The front wall 4 is provided with any desired typeof lock 8; an aperture 9 being provided directly above the lock. The aperture 9 is of the same shape as the crosssection of rod 6; it is positioned centrally of the slot 5 and in alignment therewith.

A second aperture 10 is provided in the rear wall 4 in alignment with the aperture 8. The rod 5 is adapted to be positioned in slot 5 by running the rodthrough the aligned apertures 9 and it. While rod 6 has been shown as having a rectangular cross-section, it is to be understood that it may have any other desired shape; for example, it may be circular, elliptical, square or triangular. In each case the apertures 9 and ill will have the same cross=sectional configurations as rods. The rod *6 isprovided with a inanipulating knob I I at its forward end; its rear end I2 is inclined so that it provides a cam surface. The notch or groove I3 is provided at the forward, lower edge of rod 5 to receive the check, or tongue, I4 of lock 8 thereby securely to lock rod 8 in cover-retaining position.

In such last-named position the lower edge of rod 6 rests on two pairs of lugs secured to the opposed inner edges of the metal frames of covers 3 and 3. Figs. 4 and 6 show the manner of securing these metal lugs at the front and rear portions respectively of the covers. As shown in Fig. 3, also, the forward pair of lugs I5-I5' are positioned in proximity to groove I3 in rod 6; the rear pair of lugs I6-I6 are arranged close to aperture I8. Fig. 3 illustrates the appearance of the file container when cover 3' is swung out of locked position; rod 6 being broken away to show lugs I5 and I6, which are secured to the same inner edge of cover 3. Lugs I 5' and I6 are secured to the opposite edge of cover 3'; the elements of each pair of lugs are arranged in staggered relation, as shown in Fig. 5. Rod 6 rests on the spaced pairs of lugs when the rod is passed through the aligned apertures 9 and I0. Each lug I5 or I6 acts as a stop element for rod 6; they may be secured to the cover frame in any desired manner, as by soldering.

In Fig. 4 is shown, in dotted lines, the appearance of covers 3-3 when the latter are opened. It will be observed that the thickness of rod 6 is sufficiently small to permit the manipulating tab of each record card to be smoothly and. easily adjusted along the length of the rod. In Figs. 1, 3 and 4 is shown the details of construction of one type of card support I I. The latter is adapted to retain record card I in temporary manner so that the card may be removed for additional entries and replaced on the holder IT. The latter preferably comprises an elongated strip of sheet metal, such as thin tin-plate, provided with an aperture [8 which receives the rod 6. The length of aperture I8 is sufficiently greater than the width of rod 6 so that the user may tilt a card into a position such as shown in Fig. 3. A pair of opposed card-gripper elements I9I9' are stamped out of the strip H; the distance between the elements is the height of a card I. To secure a card I to support I! it is merely necessary to insert a card between elements I9-I9. Of course, as many supports I I may be threaded on rod 6 as is desired.

A second type of card holder is illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 6. This holder, shown in Fig. 6 in detail, consists of an inverted T-shaped strip of thin metal, such as tin-plate, whose vertical sec tion is the tab I provided with rod-receiving aperture I8. The horizontal section 20 is provided with apertures 2I. A card I is permanently affixed to the horizontal backing, or support, 20 by placing the upper edge of the record card, which is assumed to have its data thereon, in substantial alignment with the upper edge of section 23. U-shaped fasteners 22 are then used to secure the card by passing one prong through an aperture 2I and the card body, while the remaining prong is pierced through the card body; both prongs are then bent towards each other on the rear face of the card. The aperture I8, as in the case of the support [1, is sufficiently long to permit ready tilting and movement of a record card.

Additional mechanism is provided to prevent withdrawal of a file drawer from the cabinet hold. Referring to Fig. 2 specifically, there are shown three spaced stops, mechanically coupled in the manner of a toggle, arranged on the rear wall 4. Thus, vertical pin or stop element is disposed centrally of the wall 4, and is arranged for reciprocation within a pair of spaced, aligned sleeves 3I-32. A spring 33 is positioned between the sleeve 3I and cotter pin 34. The latter is afixed to element 30; spring 33 normally biases pin 34 against sleeve 32. The upper end of element 30 is forked, and the inner ends of arms and M are pinned to the fork, in any well known manner, to provide the toggle joint. Each arm 40-4I is provided with an upwardly bent section acting as a stop element when projected beyond the top edge of the rear wall. Each arm 40 and M is provided with a slot 42 which receives a guide stud 43 aflixed to the rear wall 4'. The slot and stud construction permits each arm to rock about its stud as a pivot. Normally, that is when the rod 6 has not passed through aperture III, the spring 33 causes retraction of arms 404I and stop element 30. Upon passage of rod 6 through aperture IIl, cam surface I2 depresses the junction of arms 4l'l4I and element 30 which projects the lower end of the vertical pin 30 while compressing spring 33; concurrently the arms 4D4I are rocked sufficiently to project the outer ends thereof beyond the upper edge of the wall 4' as shown in Fig. 3.

In actual usage, and assuming a plurality of properly mounted cards to be disposed in the container, the covers 3 and 3' are closed thereby loosely positioning the tabs I of the card supports in slot 5. The rod 6 is now passed through apertures 9 and Ill; the rod being threaded through the successive tab apertures. The lock 8 is closed to project check I4 into groove I3. In this condition the tabs may be manipulated so as to move cards or tilt them. However, the rod 6 positively locks the covers 3-3. Further, the stop mechanism at the rear of the drawer is actuated to prevent removal of the drawer from the cabinet. Of course, stop elements 30-40-4I block removal of the drawer by contacting with the front walls of the cabinet drawer hold when the drawer has been withdrawn to its fullest extent. To insert a new card holder, or to remove a record, the user unlocks the rod; the latter is withdrawn thereby retracting stops 40--4I-30 and permitting covers 3 and 3' to be opened. The necessary change is made, and the drawer is inserted, with covers closed, in the hold therefor. The rod 5 is now threaded through the various aligned apertures, and the lock 8 is closed.

While I have indicated and described a system for carrying my invention into effect, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that my invention is by no means limited to the particular construction shown and described, but that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A card file comprising a container, a plurality of record cards therein, a pair of transparent covers pivoted to the container and spaced to provide a central guide slot, a rigid holder secured to each record card provided with a tab disposed in the slot.

2. A card file comprising a container, a plurality of record cards therein, a pair of transparent covers pivoted to the container and spaced to provide a central guide slot, a rigid holder secured to each record card provided with a tab disposed in the slot, said covers provided with at least one pair of stop elements projecting into the slot, and a rod disposed in said slot over said stop elements to prevent opening of said covers.

3. A card file comprising a container, a plurality of record cards therein, a pair of transparent covers pivoted to the container and spaced to provide a central guide slot,a rigid holder secured to each record card provided with a tab disposed in the slot, each tab having an aperture, a rod in said slot, each tab being threaded on the rod, a pair of lugs projecting from. the covers into said slot at each end of the container, and said rod being located above the lugs to prevent opening of the covers.

4. A card file comprising a drawer, a series of cards in the drawer, transparent cover means on the drawer to retain the cards therein, said cover means provided with a guide slot, a rod in the drawer disposed in the slot, an apertured tab extending from each card and projecting through the slot and threaded on the rod, and means actuated by the rod functioning as a stop device on the rear of the drawer.

5. A card file comprising a drawer, a series of cards in the drawer, transparent cover means on the drawer to retain the cards therein, said cover means provided with a guide slot, a rod in the drawer disposed in the slot, an apertured tab extending from each card and projecting through the slot and threaded on the rod, and means actuated by the rod functioning as a stop device on the rear of the drawer, said last means comprising three elements having a common mechanical coupling adapted to be actuated by said rod.

6. A card file comprising a drawer, a series of cards in the drawer, transparent cover means on the drawer to retain the cards therein, said cover means provided with a guide slot, a rod in the drawer disposed in the slot, an apertured tab extending from each card and projecting through the slot and threaded on the rod, means actuated by the rod functioning as a stop device on the rear of the drawer, said rod having a cam surface provided on its rear end, and said stop device means comprising a mechanism, including a resilient restoring element, responsive to movement of the cam surface of said rod end.

7. A card file comprising a drawer, a series of cards in the drawer, transparent cover means on the drawer to retain the cards therein, said cover means provided with a guide slot, a rod in the drawer disposed in the slot, an apertured tab extending from each card and projecting through the slot and threaded on the rod, means actuated by the rod functioning as a stop device on the rear of the drawer, said cover means consisting of a pair of pivoted cover members whose inner edges are spaced to define said slot, a pair of stop lugs extending from said inner edges at the front and rear portions of said slot, and said rod being located above the lugs to prevent the cover members from being opened.

8. In a protected card file, a plurality of record cards, transparent cover means therefor, each card being provided with a rigid holder having an apertured tab and a backing section, the latter section including means for affixing the card thereto, a guide rod for the tabs threaded through the apertures, and means responsive to said rod for projecting a stop device on the rear wall of the file.

SEYMOUR S. EHRENZWEIG. 

